Bite Shift

55

I had absolutely nothing to say. This was the second time, in a matter of hours, that I had stepped out of a room with a Playgirl model to face Tiffany and Tiffany. Now I also got to face Jackson and Monica with zero to say for myself.

Sorin had put his masking back up so, instead of a sex god, he only looked like a sex demigod. He didn't miss a beat. He extended his hand to Jackson, "I am Sorin."

"Jackson," the nurse responded and gave Sorin's hand a manly pump.

He moved to each Tiffany and repeated the hand kissing and slight bow that he had given Monica. He gave Monica a wink, like they had a secret. He whispered to each one. All three girls were practically panting and Jackson looked at the other man like he had just won the Super Bowl.

Sorin turned and all eyes were on me. "Sorry," I managed to squeak out, "we needed to talk and it couldn't wait."

Jackson laughed. "Yeah, sometimes, you just gotta," he made a big show of winking at me, "talk. Don't worry, we covered for you. Everyone is good. And, we barely heard a thing. Just a couple of moans."

Sorin made no attempts to come to my rescue or defend my honor. He looked like the cat that had eaten the canary, and gotten applauded for it. So much for chivalry. He moved back to my side, faced the nurses, and put his arm around my shoulders. "I wanted to check on her since it was her first day back." The accent was nice and thick again. "I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her. There is none like her."

He kissed the top of my head. The girls simultaneously let out an "awwww". I fought the impulse to roll my eyes.

"I will leave you all to do the very important work that you do. I am in awe of nurses."

Well, that will do it. They're all smitten. Even Jackson looks a little in love.

"Walk me to the elevator, Katherine?"

"Sure." Any excuse to get away from them and the questions that are coming.

As we left the unit and turned the corner, towards the elevator station, I heard them all start to talk at once. I am never living this down.

We approached the same elevator I had ridden up in and something caught my eye. On the ledge of the window that overlooked the roof, was a red rose. Sorin picked it up and smelled it. The blossom was large, the color was a bright crimson, and the green stem was cut long. He extended his arm, holding the rose out to me. "It came from my garden."

"What is this for?" It had been a very long time since a man had given me a rose.

"The bush is near the bench I first saw you on. One rose for our one time together. Next time", he arched that eyebrow of his again, "I will give you two, regina mea."

It was cheesy and manipulative and cocky, but I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from rising into a smile. I bit my lower lip to stop the grin.

"You said that before. What does it mean?"

"What does what mean?"

"Regina mea. I assume it Romanian? What does it mean?"

"I'm sure you can find out. I will thank Will for checking on you last night. I should have thought of it myself. Although," he stepped towards me, "you didn't give me your address."

You have my address, I thought and bit my lip harder. If I said that, he would know that Will told me.

"Do you want my address?"

He cocked his head to one side. "I can get it if I want it." He brought his head back. "That is not the point. I am glad that he thought to bring you sustenance. Be sure to fed again. I didn't take much from you but you will feel it. In the future, if you need to eat and have nothing, call me. I will not let you hunger........" his eyes sparkled mischievously "for anything."

With that, the door opened like magic, he stepped in and was gone. I stood alone in the vestibule, with a rose in my hand, wondering what had just happened.

The hole I was digging for myself was getting deeper by the day. I had lied to Sorin to protect Will. I had lied to Rhys to protect myself. I didn't trust anyone anymore but I, apparently, lusted after a few.

The thoughts didn't have time to spiral out of control because the group of nurses came around the corner to join me in front of the window. They couldn't contain their curiosity any longer.

Jackson started, "Damn, Kate. I am impressed. I would not have pegged you for a 'quickie in the storage closet' kind of girl."

Irish Tiffany jumped in. "Where did you find him?!" I knew what she was really asking. She wanted to know how a lame, old mom could land someone like Sorin and she hadn't.

I didn't have time for a sharp comeback because Monica chimed in. "How could you not tell me about him?! I thought we were best friends! Is that why you never want to go out with us??"

"Is it because you guys just aren't that serious," Hispanic Tiffany finished. Again, I knew exactly what she was asking. She wanted to know if she had a chance to swoop in and steal him away.

Part of me wanted to be rid of him; for him to move on to someone else. But another, deeper, part was jealous. That part wanted to tell her to back the fuck off. I decided to face it all, head on, with the "kind of" truth.

"It wasn't like I planned it Jackson, it just happened. Frankly, it is helping me get through some pretty heavy shit. Tiffany, he and I have a mutual friend; that is how we met. Monica, I didn't tell you because it is pretty new and I haven't had a chance to figure it all out or know what to tell. I have been busy dealing with more important things. And, Tiffany, it is not serious. But, trust me, you do not want him. He is not right for you."

She looked offended by the last part but I didn't have the time or energy to console her. None of that was a lie.... Except the "not serious" part. That felt like a lie. The bite on my breast told me that it was not casual, at least, not right now.

Monica was the only one to respond, "I get it, Kate. You've had a lot happen recently. Your whole life changed. If he is making you, even a little happy, then I say go for it. I have to be honest, though. I am so freaking jealous of you right now. I hate you just a tiny bit."

"Damn. He even brought you a rose. The man is smooth." That insight was from Jackson. I could see the wheels in his head turning. I would have bet $100 that he was trying to think of a girl he could give a rose to and get some secret sex in a closet. I think, if he had a pen and paper on him, he would have been taking notes.

"Listen, gang, I don't have much time before I need to get home and beat the sun. Let me do some of your extra work for you to make up for you having to take my slack in the sunlight."

Monica smiled. "You just want to buy our silence!"

"I don't care," Hispanic Tiffany said. "I'll keep the secret of JFK's assassination if it means you'll do some of my cleaning for me!"

"Me, too!" Other Tiffany agreed. "Your dirty liaison is for us only. In all honesty, no one would believe us anyways, Kate."

Ouch. That one hurt. Let her have it. She's trying to make herself feel better. That's why she's taking jabs at you and using big words like 'liaison'. Her ego is bruised.

"I'm going to get to work on everything. Thanks everyone. It's been a very weird night but I am glad it was with you guys."

As I walked away, I heard Jackson talking to someone. "Tiffany, wanna go in the closet?" I didn't turn around so I will never know what Tiffany he asked but the sound of the slap told me that she had taken offense.